About the Unit

St Vincent’s University Hospital is a centre of excellence in Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland. As one of four screening units in the country, the healthcare group sees more than 800 screen detected and symptomatic breast cancers per year. Within the unit there is a designated family history clinic. The team consists of 6 breast surgeons, 3 of whom are oncoplastic fellowship trained, as well as 5 plastic surgeons.

Fellowship

This is a 12-month fellowship programme. The aim of this fellowship is to produce highly trained oncoplastic surgeons. The focus of the fellowship is to develop the complex decision making and operative skills required to become a competent oncoplastic surgeon.

During the fellowship, the fellow will be included in:

- Triple assessment clinic

- Results clinic

- Family history clinic

- Breast theatre

- Plastics theatre

- Breast MDT

- Oncoplastic MDT

- Grand rounds

- Departmental teaching

- Unit research and audit

The fellow will also be encouraged to submit to and attend national and international breast meetings, in which the department will support them in doing so.

Training Delivery

1) Basic Sciences and Breast Assessment – The service sees over 800 new cases of breast cancer a year. There are clinics 4 days a week, all of which are consultant-led, and 2 MDTs for screening and symptomatic patients. There is also a monthly Oncoplastic MDT. There is ample research opportunity within the unit which the fellow would be an integral part of.

2) Benign Breast Conditions – A wide variety of benign cases are managed through the unit, many of whom require oncoplastic input.

3) Breast Cancer – The volume of patients has been increasing year on year within the unit. The unit is home to one of four national BreaskCheck which conducts the national screening programme. There is a wide variety of surgical procedures performed within the unit, ranging from simple wide local excision through to therapeutic mammoplasty. There are at least 4 lists per week, which are excellent training opportunities to gain independence in these skills.

4) Implant Breast Reconstruction – The unit performs over 100 implant reconstructions per year both for malignancy and risk reduction.

5) Autologous Tissue Based Reconstruction – A wide spectrum of autologous reconstruction is performed including chest wall perforators, LDs and free flaps. We have an onsite Revolve system for lipomodelling procedures.

6) Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast – The unit performs symmetrising procedures including reductions and mastopexies. Fellows will also have the opportunity to attend ad hoc theatre in the private hospitals.

Candidate Criteria

This post is suitable for:

- Trainees and non-trainees from both a breast and plastic surgery background

- Completed registrar/residency training

- Completed FRCS, EBSQ exam or equivalent

- Minimum of 24 months experience in a breast unit

- Competent to perform mastectomy, breast conservation surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary clearance

Successful applicants will be invited to interview and if successful will require:

- Registration with Medical Protection Society

- Registration with Irish Medical Council

Contact Details

James.geraghty@ucd.ie